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Identification of virulence genes carried by bacteriophages obtained from clinically isolated methicillin-resistant

Djursun Karasartova1, Zeynep Burcin Cavusoglu1, Buse Turegun1

  • 11 Microbiology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Ankara University , Ankara, Turkey.

Acta Microbiologica Et Immunologica Hungarica
|December 31, 2016
PubMed

Insights

Bacteriophages, viruses infecting bacteria, carry significant virulence genes in Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). This study found most MRSA-associated phages harbor toxin genes, contributing to S. aureus pathogenicity.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Virology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Bacteriophages are crucial in Staphylococcus aureus pathogenicity, often carrying accessory virulence factors and superantigens.
  • Limited research exists on the distribution of virulence genes within prophages from clinical Staphylococcus isolates.
  • Understanding these phage-encoded virulence factors is essential for combating S. aureus infections.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the presence and distribution of virulence factors encoded by prophages in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains.
  • To analyze the relationship between phage genomic profiles and the carriage of specific toxin genes.
  • To compare prophage presence in MRSA from hospital-associated (HA) versus community-associated (CA) infections.

Main Methods:

  • Isolation and characterization of 43 phages from 48 MRSA strains.
  • Detection of specific toxin genes (sak, eta, lukF-PV, sea, selp, sek, seg, seq, chp, scn) using Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and Southern blot.
  • Analysis of phage genomes using Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (RFLP) to correlate phage profiles with toxin gene presence.

Main Results:

  • MRSA strains from HA infections exhibited a higher prophage presence (97%) compared to CA infections (67%).
  • All but one investigated phage contained one or more virulence genes, often in various combinations.
  • The most prevalent toxin genes identified were sea (83%), sek (77%), and seq (64%).

Conclusions:

  • Prophages are significant carriers of virulence factors in MRSA.
  • The findings highlight the substantial role of phage-encoded genes in MRSA pathogenicity.
  • Further research into these phage-borne virulence factors could inform therapeutic strategies against MRSA.
Keywords:
S. aureusbacteriophagesvirulence genes

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